Peshawar: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has approved the concession agreement for the Thandiani Integrated Tourism Zone (ITZ), marking a major step in the province’s efforts to promote sustainable tourism through private sector participation.
Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi formally approved and signed the concession agreement while chairing the ninth meeting of the provincial Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Committee. Following the signing, the chief minister directed the relevant authorities to ensure immediate progress on the project in coordination with the private partner.
The Thandiani ITZ is the first Integrated Tourism Zone in Pakistan to be developed under a public-private partnership model. The project aims to transform Thandiani, a well-known hill station, into a modern and environmentally responsible tourism destination by attracting private investment.
Addressing the meeting, Afridi said Integrated Tourism Zones are flagship initiatives in the tourism sector and stressed that their development must strictly follow environment-friendly principles. He added that the provincial government is pursuing former prime minister Imran Khan’s vision of making tourism a key driver of economic stability and growth in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Officials briefed the meeting that the project will span 400 kanals and will be developed in four zones through three separate development packages. Designed to cater to tourists of all age groups, the project includes up to 14 potential tourism ventures, the construction of three new hotels or condotels, and a total of 263 hotel and resort keys.
The government expects the project to enhance tourism infrastructure, generate employment, and help unlock the province’s vast tourism potential while maintaining environmental sustainability.
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